Swivel caster with total lock brake, PP hub and PUR tread, mounted with top plate, 70 kg

Swivel caster in PUR with polypropylene hub, ball bearing and top plate

This is a small swiveling caster with a tread in polyurethane and a hub in polypropylene, mounted on a top plate. It is made for equipment and light carts that have to be moved and turned smoothly in confined space. The bracket swivels freely through 360 degrees, so the wheel lines itself up with the movement and lets the equipment be maneuvered on the spot. The tread has a hardness of 95 degrees Shore A, a firm polyurethane that rolls easily and holds its shape under load.

The hardness governs how the wheel behaves. A firm PUR has low rolling resistance and gets going without extra force, which is an advantage on equipment that is moved often. The polyurethane is at the same time gentler on the floor than a plain plastic wheel and stands up to wear as well as ordinary oils and greases. The difference against a soft rubber wheel is clear: the rubber would have absorbed unevenness and run more quietly, but rolled heavier and carried less. This wheel puts easy rolling and good steering on smooth floors ahead of shock absorption on rough surfaces.

The polypropylene hub keeps the weight down and does not rust, which makes the caster suitable in damp spaces and able to take regular cleaning. In the hub sits a ball bearing that gives low friction and smooth running. Compared with a plain bearing the wheel starts more easily and rolls more quietly, which suits light carts that have to be pushed with little force.

This family is supplied in the 33 mm diameter and carries up to 20 kg per wheel. The small format keeps the overall height low, which is needed under equipment, boxes and machinery where the space beneath the base is tight. The small diameter makes the wheel more sensitive to thresholds and joints than a larger wheel, so it suits smooth indoor floors best. The top plate has four screw holes and gives a stable fastener against a flat surface, a simple and secure mounting solution on an even underframe.

Where does it fit? Small swivel casters with a top plate sit under instrument boxes, measuring equipment, smaller serving carts, display stands and mobile equipment in workshops, offices, healthcare and retail. The hard tread together with the ball bearing makes the caster easy to roll and turn even at light load, and the polyurethane leaves no black marks on light floors. The four screw holes in the top plate mean the caster sits firmly on a flat underframe and that a worn caster can be replaced without the fastener having to be redone.

The small format also has its limits. The swivel point sits close to the center of the wheel, which makes the caster turn easily, but the small diameter means that a threshold, a mat or a cable on the floor can stop it. On smooth indoor floors that is seldom a worry; in an environment with joints or cable ducts a larger wheel is often a better choice. The load should be kept within the 20 kg per wheel the family is built for, since overloading wears both the tread and the ball bearing and shortens the life of the wheel.

Think about the operating environment. Polyurethane is happy at normal indoor temperature and in dry to slightly damp environments. Since this version has no brake, the cart is best parked where it cannot roll away by itself; if you need locking there are sister versions with a brake in the range. If the caster stands still for a long time under full load, the tread can take a temporary flat spot that rolls out after a while, which is normal for polyurethane.

Are you unsure whether the small format is enough, or do you need a larger wheel or a version with a brake? Get in touch and we will look at the load and the surface together.